Modesto Man Held for Kidnap, Torture of Girlfriend Allegedly Kept Captive for a Month

Sheriff’s deputies arrested 29-year-old Saul Ortega at his Modesto home Saturday for allegedly holding his girlfriend captive for a month as he tortured and raped her.

Saul Ortega (Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office)

The victim was found with extensive injuries to her body, including bruises and burns, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post. She had reportedly escaped several days earlier but said she did not call police immediately because Ortega had threatened her and her family.

Detectives served a warrant on Ortega’s home, where he was arrested. An elderly female was also detained but later released after cooperating with the investigation, the department said. The investigation was conducted by the Crimes Against Person Unit, assisted  by the SWAT team, Special Investigations Unit, Crime Scene Investigation Unit, and Unmanned Aerial System team.

Ortega was booked on charges of kidnapping, false imprisonment, rape, torture, mayhem, domestic violence, making criminal threats and a string of drug and firearm offenses.

He is currently being held on $1 million bail, the department’s post said.